Artemis II Astronauts Transition to Emeritus Roles at NASA

Historic Mission Leads to New Chapter

NASA astronauts Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman, who commanded and piloted the groundbreaking Artemis II mission around the Moon earlier in 2026, are transitioning to emeritus status at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston starting in September. This move represents a shift in their careers rather than a departure from the space agency. The emeritus program enables highly experienced personnel to remain connected to NASA through volunteer consulting roles while pursuing additional opportunities outside traditional full-time employment.

Wiseman commanded Artemis II after accumulating 165 days aboard the International Space Station during previous missions. Glover brought his background as a naval aviator, test pilot, and former Crew-1 astronaut to his role as pilot. Together with NASA astronaut Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, they completed a 10-day mission in April that made them the first humans in over 50 years to reach lunar orbit and the farthest humans ever to travel into space.

Mentorship and Knowledge Transfer

As Glover transitions into his emeritus role, he intends to maintain involvement in aerospace, leadership, and public service both within NASA and beyond. A central component of his work will involve transferring his extensive knowledge of the Orion spacecraft and its systems to teams preparing for upcoming Artemis missions. Similarly, Wiseman will continue sharing lessons learned from his spaceflight career as NASA develops Artemis III, scheduled for 2027, which will test rendezvous and docking capabilities between Orion and commercial human landing systems.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized that the transition does not diminish the astronauts' contributions to the agency. Their experience will remain available to current astronauts, engineers, flight controllers, and others working on the next phases of NASA's human spaceflight program. Vanessa Wyche, director of Johnson Space Center, noted that Glover and Wiseman's commitment to exploration and steady leadership have created lasting impact within the astronaut corps and across the agency.

Scott Tingle, chief of the Astronaut Office, highlighted how both astronauts have strengthened the office through their professionalism and calm leadership during critical missions. Their operational excellence and unwavering commitment have inspired colleagues throughout their careers. The emeritus program allows them to continue serving as trusted advisors while having greater flexibility to pursue other interests and opportunities in the broader aerospace and public service sectors.

Preparing for Future Lunar Missions

The knowledge and experience gained during Artemis II will prove crucial as NASA advances its lunar exploration agenda. Artemis III is planned for low Earth orbit operations, while Artemis IV is targeted for 2028 with the goal of returning American astronauts to the lunar surface. Glover and Wiseman's first-hand experience navigating these complex systems and overcoming challenges during their historic journey positions them as invaluable resources for the astronauts, engineers, and mission controllers preparing for these subsequent missions.

Both astronauts have expressed enthusiasm about their new roles. Glover stated that NASA and spaceflight remain meaningful to his journey of service and that he is excited to continue supporting colleagues as they work toward lunar objectives. Wiseman emphasized his deep gratitude for the opportunities NASA has provided throughout his career and his commitment to serving future missions and programs through the emeritus structure. Their voluntary transition reflects the enduring commitment both bring to American human spaceflight.